Though some refer to this bubbly wine as "Champagne", only sparkling wines from the Champagne region of France can claim that name. The remaining producers throughout the world refer to their effervescent wines as Sparkling wines; even those in other regions throughout France have to call their sparkling wines "vins mousseux", or "sparkling wines".
Sparkling wines are produced in many different countries, the most famous being France; and in particular, the northeastern region of Champagne. In Spain, sparkling wine is called "Cavas"; Italy is home to famous Asti spumantes; and Germany and the United States also produce some famed Sparkling wines.
Grapes typically used in making sparkling wines are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chenin Blanc. Due to the wide variety of grapes involved in making sparkling wines, these wines come in many different styles.
The first being Brut, which is dry, crisp, and citric. Spumante is sweet, fruity, and often takes on berry flavors. Some sparkling wines are produced only from red wine grapes, are pressed immediately after harvesting in order to extract the white juice, and are therefore called "Blanc De Noirs" or "white from black". On the other hand, some sparkling wines are made only from white wine grapes, producing a lighter and more delicate wine, known as "Blanc De Blancs" or "white from white".
